Impaired hippocampus-dependent and facilitated striatum-dependent behaviors in mice lacking the δ opioid receptor.

ABSTRACT: Pharmacological data suggest that delta opioid receptors modulate learning and memory processes. In the present study, we investigated whether inactivation of the delta opioid receptor modifies hippocampus (HPC)- and striatum-dependent behaviors. We first assessed HPC-dependent learning in mice lacking the receptor (Oprd1(-/-) mice) or wild-type (WT) mice treated with the delta opioid antagonist naltrindole using novel object recognition, and a dual-solution cross-maze task. Second, we subjected mutant animals to memory tests addressing striatum-dependent learning using a single-solution response cross-maze task and a motor skill-learning task. Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of delta opioid receptors reduced performance in HPC-dependent object place recognition. Place learning wa

SUBMITTER: Le Merrer J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3629400 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature